Learning Disabilities
What are Learning
Disabilities?
● Learning disabilities are problems that
affect the brain's ability to receive,
process, analyze, or store information.
● These problems can make it difficult for a
student to learn as quickly as someone
who isn't affected by learning disabilities.
Nature and Causes
● SLD may occur in
combination with other
disabling conditions, but
they are not due primarily
to other conditions, such
as intellectual disability,
behavioral disturbance,
lack of opportunities to
learn, or primary sensory
deficits
Etiology
● Heredity
● Problems during pregnancy and
Child birth
● Accidents after birth
● Environmental
Types of Learning
Disabilities
● Dyslexia
● Dyscalculia
● Dysgraphia
● Dyspraxia (Sensory Integration Disorder)
● Central Auditory processing Disorder
● Non Verbal Learning Disorders
● Visual Perceptual or Visual Motor Deficit
● Language disorders (Aphasia/Dysphasia)
●
Facts of Learning Disabilities
Persons with learning disabilities are not “lazy” or “dumb.”
• In fact, they usually have average or above average intelligence. Often
they fall within the range or “gifted.” Their brains just process information
differently.
• Attention disorders, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and
learning disabilities often occur at the same time, but they’re not the
same .
• Children with dyslexia use “almost five times as much brain area as other
children while doing a simple language task” 22
• Learning disabilities are not the same as autism, hearing or visual
impairment, physical disabilities, or emotional disorders.
• Learning disabilities aren’t caused by lack of educational opportunities,
such as frequent changes of schools, poor school attendance, or lack of
instruction in basic skills.
• A learning disability is not a disease, so there is no cure, but there are
ways to overcome the challenges it poses through identification and
accommodation.
• Because many people with dyslexia are right-brained thinkers, they may
be more artistic and creative, becoming poets, actors, inventors, and
artists.
• Dyslexia does not mean that the person sees words backwards
Classroom and Assignment Accommodations
• You may be asked to
• assist the student in finding effective peer note-takers
from the class. Alternatively, you could provide the
student with a copy of your lecture notes or outline.
• allow the student to tape record lectures.
• allow the student additional time to complete in-class
assignments, particularly writing assignments.
• provide feedback and assist the student in planning the
workflow of assignments. This is especially important
with large writing assignments. It may be helpful to
break the larger assignment into smaller components
with opportunities for draft feedback.
• provide assistance with proofreading written [Link] Accommodations
• You may be asked to allow the student with a learning
disability
• extended exam time, typically time and one half to
double time.
• to take exams in a room with reduced distractions.
• the assistance of a reader, scribe, or word processor for
exams.
• the option of an oral exam.
• to use spelling and grammar assistive devices for essay
exams.
• to use a calculator for exams.
• to use scratch paper during exams.
OTHER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
Teachers may:
Allow students to use calculators during Math, when the goal is
concept attainment (and not automaticity of math facts)
Allow students to tape record lectures and/or tape notes for students.
Allow students who cannot speak clearly to use a speech synthesizer
Assessment:
Allow for alternate forms of assessment by allowing students to
demonstrate learning through such things as portfolios, slide
presentations, photographic essays, or taped interviews.
Donts
● No labelling
● No comparisons
● Confidentiality
●
Characteristics
